Alejandro Valverde delivered an amazing performance in today's first mountain stage of the Vuelta a Espana when he took the win despite having worked hard for Nairo Quintana. Despite his great form, however, the Spaniard insists that his Colombian teammate is still the captain.

 

Movistar Team's dream start in the 2014 Vuelta a España goes on. Alejandro Valverde offered in La Zubia, atop the race's first Cat-1 climb of Cumbres Verdes - following 167km of rolling roads from Benalmádena - an exhibition at the level of the biggest names in the pro scene.

After working through the second part of the finishing ascent (4km with slopes over 10%) for his team-mate Nairo Quintana, the Spaniard was able to beat some of the world's best specialists in the closing meters with a signature acceleration that took him back into the lead of the Spanish grand tour.

 

The protection work by the whole Movistar Team, including Erviti, Malori, Castroviejo and Izagirre pushing at the front and looking after the two Blue references on Zafarraya (Cat-2), Bemejales (Cat-3) and in the flat section after the climbs, was followed by a turn by Andrey Amador, leading the two into good position for the ascent where Valverde split the group until it was nearly ten riders before the final kilometer.

 

The two accelerations by Rodríguez and the attack by Froome after the flamme rouge found excellent response from Valverde who jumped for the win - his 11th of the season, the 84th in his career, the 32nd for a Movistar Team which equals its account from 2013 and is just four away from 1998's best tally with 36. Behind, Quintana, still building up on his form, lost only 12" to stay in 2nd overall, 15" after Valverde and ahead of all rivals for the GC.

 

Friday will bring another slightly uphill finish in Alcaudete (169km), the peloton still far from the second real mountainous test in Valdelinares on Sunday.

"This victory means a lot to me," Valverde said. "Though it's harder to feel great with these temperatures, my legs were really good today, I felt well all over the course and I was able to win.

 

"It was a climb that really suited me and we couldn't miss such an opportunity -  still, I think everyone saw clearly I was working for Nairo. There was a tailwind on the climb and it was hard for anyone in the main group to go away, they had to stay on our wheel.

 

"I was setting a strong pace to take some rivals out of contention, but saving an extra bit of energy in case anyone attacked, as it happened with both Purito and Froome. I never looked back: both Nairo and the team car were telling me to keep the pace: 'Only ten or twelve riders behind you.' 

 

"When Purito jumped away, I didn't think about it for a second - I went after him. He's someone we can't give a single meter. I still had strength to counter and go for the win, so at the end of the day, we couldn't do better: we took some rivals out of contention even though the gaps weren't really huge - we also took some bonus seconds and the result is fantastic for the whole team.

 

"For me, the main leader of the squad is still Nairo, though I don't rule out my own chances. I keep really clear in my mind he'll be doing better and better, and he showed today he's up for the fight. Many mountains will come for him to do great. We get on really well with each other and I worked my heart out for him today.

 

"If I keep feeling well, I'll try and go for some more stage wins, though I keep faith GC-wise. The important thing is that one of us Blues can win the race.

 

"Our tactic consisted in riding strongly to control our adversaries. I’m working for Nairo Quintana. I don’t know if he had the legs to attack but when Purito did it, I followed Froome and Contador and I eventually won.

 

"The goal remains the same. Nairo is our team leader but I don’t give away my chances to stay high on GC. Riding as I did today, I was helping Nairo because our rivals were going to suffer and some of them would get dropped. In my wheel, Nairo was encouraging me to keep that rhythm.

 

"The two of them [Contador and Froome] came to the Vuelta with the desire to take their revenge. Alberto Contador never comes to the Vuelta as a fun rider. He’s had a big crash at the Tour. He’s not back at 100% yet but at about 90%. As everyone, I knew he was going well and today, it’s obvious. We know him well. We always have to be careful of him."